“But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” – Exodus 9:16

God put Cyrus in power.

“Who says of Cyrus. ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’” Thus says the LORD and His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: “I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in places the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, Who call you by your name.” – Isaiah 44: 28-45: 1-3

Rulers must serve the good of the people.

“For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, but for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain.” – Romans 13: 3-4a

Samuel was a good judge over Israel.

“’You have not cheated or oppressed us,’ they replied. ‘You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.’ Samuel said to them, ‘The LORD is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.’ ‘He is witness,’ they said.” – 1 Samuel 12: 4-5

Please note that “judges” were like tribal mayors at a local level of government during Biblical times. They WERE NOT the kinds of “judges” that you and I find in courthouses nowadays.

However, the people were not satisfied with only having a judge. They wanted a king.

Samuel warned that a king would abuse power.

“He said, ‘This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots. Some he will assign to be commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and others to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and still others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your male and female servants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.’” – 1 Samuel 8:11-17

And the final verse of the book of Judges reminds us that:

“In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” – Judges 21: 25